30 Year PVC Study

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Myrna Weber, Admistrative Director

17 January 1996

PGI AND MINNESOTA DNR TEAM UP TO DETERMINE LONGEVITY OF PVC

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., -- The PVC Geomembrane Institute (PGI) has joined hands with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) in order to conduct an extensive research project.

PVC is one of the oldest liner materials in use today. This project is aimed at predicting the useful life of PVC liners under actual-use conditions, which are closely monitored and evaluated.

The 30 year project entails placing samples of PVC in two areas of the research site in Hibing, Minnesota: the settling basin and the wetlands. Once placed, these samples will be exhumed at timely intervals and tested to determine changes in properties of the parent PVC materials and their seams. Three types of seams commonly used in field installation will be evaluated. These include Chemical Fusion welding, Dielectric welding and Hot wedge welding.

The PGI will maintain samples and records of the original material specifications for future comparison studies.

The 30 mil PVC samples used in this study are provided by member companies of the PGI, all of whom manufacturer and fabricate their individual products according to the PVC Geomembrane Institute Quality Control Document. They are also required to meet the NSF Standard 54.

This project is funded by both the PGI and the MNDNR. Costs for any additional testing will be assumed by the PVC Geomembrane Institute.

The Minnesota DNR project is just one of many projects the PGI has worked on in order to further the knowledge base of PVC Geomembranes.

The PGI is dedicated to conducting research and educating engineers and specifiers about the properties and use of PVC geomembranes.

For information on PVC geomembranes or the PGI please contact Myrna Weber, Admistrative Director, at (217) 333-3929 or email pgi-tp@uiuc.edu

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